Devin Vassell might be one of the best sleeper picks in the 2020 NBA Draft. The Golden State Warriors should target him late in the lottery.
Top NBA Draft prospects such as James Wiseman, LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards have stolen most of the spotlight when discussing who the Golden State Warriors will select with their lottery pick. One name that hasn’t been mentioned much is Devin Vassell.
Vassell is a lank 6’6″ forward with a 6’10” wingspan that is projected to be a quality two-way player straight out the gate. He shot his way up the big boards by being a lethal catch-and-shoot player and an even more promising defender.
In his sophomore season at Florida State, Vassell averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He was a high-impact player on both ends of the floor and covered ground with his giant strides.
He has a decent motor and doesn’t give up on plays. Vassell is strong at keeping his man in front of him but is also quick enough to recover and reject shots as a help defender. Furthermore, his length allows him to be a plus rebounder for his position.
His most valuable asset is his 3-point shooting. Vassell drilled 44 deep shots last year on 41.5 percent shooting from behind the line. He is a sniper on catch-and-shoot opportunities and has a smooth pull up in the mid-range.
The speed of his jumpshot is concerning. It takes him a long time to move the ball up to the top of his head due to his long arms and this can often allow opponents enough opportunity to close out on him. This is made worse by the fact that he isn’t a quick-twitch athlete and often relies heavily on his size to shoot over smaller players.
Though he doesn’t possess blazing speed, he is a decent finisher around the rim. He was a threat to catch lobs in transition and had a knack for sniffing out offensive rebounds whenever he had a chance.
Vassell is likely to be taken late in the lottery. If the Warriors elect to trade down in the draft, he could become their top prospect. After all, a versatile wing defender to play minutes off of the bench is something the franchise is needing.